Output hopper for media processing devices

ABSTRACT

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; wherein: the first door includes a first cutout at a first top edge of the first door; and the first cutout allow the media units to spill over the first and second top edges when a capacity of the cavity is exceeded.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/807,043, filed Nov. 8, 2017. The content of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/807,043 is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Some media processing devices are configured to process media units,such as identity cards (e.g., driver's licenses or employee badges). Asused herein, the term “media unit” refers to a discrete media unit.While some examples disclosed herein are described using the term“card,” a card is an example type of media unit and example methods andapparatus disclosed herein are applicable to any suitable type of mediaunit(s).

A media processing device processes a media unit by, for example,printing indicia onto one or more surfaces of the media unit and/orencoding the media unit with machine-readable data. After the media unitis processed, the media processing device dispenses the media unit in amanner that makes the processed media unit accessible to a user. Forexample, the media processing device dispenses the media unit into acavity configured to receive and retain a plurality of media units. Thecavity is defined by a structure referred to as an output hopper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example media processing device having an outputhopper constructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an example media unit to be processed by the examplemedia processing device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example media processingdevice of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a front view of the output hopper.

FIG. 5 depicts the output hopper in a closed position.

FIG. 6 depict the output hopper in an open position.

FIG. 7 depicts an example manner of removing a stack of media units fromthe output hopper.

FIG. 8 depicts an example manner of removing a media unit from theoutput hopper.

FIG. 9 depicts another example manner of removing a media unit from theoutput hopper.

FIG. 10 depicts an overflow of media units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an example media processing device 100 constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The example mediaprocessing device 100 is configured to process media units, such ascards (e.g., identity cards). An example media unit 200 to be processedby the example media processing device 100 is shown in FIG. 2 . Theexample media unit 200 includes a first minor edge 202, a second minoredge 204, a first major edge 206, and a second major edge 208. The minoredges 202 and 204 are shorter in length than the major edges 206 and208. The example media unit 200 includes a first surface 210 and asecond surface (not shown in FIG. 2 ) opposing the first surface 210.The example media unit 200 has a thickness between the first surface 210and the second surface. In the illustrated example, the first surface210 defines a plane referred to herein as the “media unit plane.” Whilethe first surface 210 is used to refer to the “media unit plane” herein,the second surface may be used to refer to the “media unit plane.” Anexample normal 212 extending from the first surface 210 is shown in FIG.2 . Put another way, the example normal 212 of FIG. 2 extendsperpendicularly away from the media unit plane. As media units arestacked on top of each other, the stack forms along the example normal212.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the media processing device 100 includes ahousing 104 defined by a plurality of panels. The media processingdevice 100 stores a supply of unprocessed media units in an inputhopper. In this example, the input hopper is a user-accessible cavitypositioned within the housing 104. The input hopper of FIG. 1 isaccessible from the exterior of the media processing device 100 via aninput hopper door 108. The supply of media units is placed in the inputhopper by opening the input hopper door 108 and inserting the mediaunits into the exposed cavity. The example media processing device 100of FIG. 1 includes an auxiliary input slot 112 for insertion of a singlemedia unit into the input hopper.

The media processing device 100 of FIG. 1 moves a media unit from theinput hopper to processing elements, which process the media unit by,for example, generating indicia on one or more surfaces of the mediaunit. The processing of the media unit is described in detail below inconnection with FIG. 3 . The indicia applied to the media unit aresourced from a cassette (e.g. a ribbon cassette) supported within thehousing 104. The cassette is accessible from the exterior of the mediaprocessing device 100 via a cassette access door 124.

In some examples, when an issue with a media unit and/or the processingthereof, the media unit is rejected. In this example, rejected mediaunits are routed to a reject area proximate to an interior surface ofthe cassette access door 124. The reject area is described in detailbelow in connection with FIG. 3 .

If the media unit is processed without issue, the media processingdevice 100 dispenses the media unit into a processed media output. Inthis example, the processed media output is an output hopper 116, whichprovides users access to the processed media units via an output opening120. The example output hopper 116 of FIG. 1 , which is described indetail below, is constructed in accordance with teachings of thisdisclosure. Notably, the output hopper 116, which is associated withprocessed media (i.e., non-rejected cards) is separate from the rejectarea proximate to the interior surface of the cassette access door 124.

Turning to FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of the example mediaprocessing device 100 of FIG. 1 is depicted. As seen in FIG. 3 , themedia processing device 100 includes, within the housing 104, anunprocessed media input in the form of an input hopper 300. The inputhopper 300 is configured to store a plurality of media units 200, suchas identity cards, in a stack 304. The input hopper 300 of FIG. 3 canstore media units of a variety of thicknesses. In the illustratedexample, the input hopper 300 is loaded media units 200 having athickness of between about 0.2 mm and about 1 mm. Typically, the entiresupply of media units in the input hopper 300 at given time have thesame thickness. However, in some examples the media processing device100 is also configured to process media units having differentthicknesses.

A pick roller 308 is disposed at an outlet 312 of the input hopper 300,and is configured to dispense a single media unit 200 from the inputhopper 300 to a media transport assembly configured to guide the mediaunit 200 along a media processing path 316. The media processing device100 also includes an input roller 320 at the slot 112, configured todrive a single media unit 200 fed into the slot 112 underneath the stack304 already present (if any) in the input hopper. The single media unit200 fed into the slot 112 is then dispensed from the input hopper 300for travel along the media processing path 316. In other words, themedia processing device 100 is configured to process media units 200retrieved from the stack 304 in the input hopper 300, as well assingle-feed media units 200 received via the input slot 112.

The input hopper 300 also contains a biasing assembly 324 disposed abovethe media unit stack 304. The pick roller 308 dispenses the bottom mediaunit 200 from the stack 304 by frictionally engaging with the bottommedia unit 200. If insufficient force is exerted by the bottom mediaunit 200 on the pick roller 308, the frictional engagement between thepick roller 308 and the media unit 200 may be too weak for the pickroller 308 to dispense the media unit 200. When the input hopper 300 isfull, the weight of the media unit stack 304 alone may apply sufficientforce for engagement between the bottom media unit 200 and the pickroller 308. The biasing assembly 324 is configured to apply aprogressively greater force to the top of the stack 304 as the stack 304shrinks in size, thus maintaining a substantially constant force on thebottom media unit 200. The biasing assembly 324, in the present example,is implemented as a Sarrus linkage biased towards an open position inwhich the biasing assembly 324 applies a force on the media unit stack304 (the linkage is shown in a closed, or retracted, position in FIG. 3) by one or more biasing elements, such as a combination of coilsprings.

The media transport assembly includes a plurality of rollers and guidesurfaces. The media processing path 316, as seen in FIG. 3 , extendsfrom the input hopper 300 to a processing head 328, such as a printheadconfigured to facilitate generation of indicia to the media unit 200 bytransferring ink from an ink ribbon to the media unit 200. In thisexample, the media processing device 100 is a thermal transfer printer,and the printhead 328 is supplied with an ink ribbon from a cassette 332removably supported within the housing 104. The housing 104 includes anopening (not shown in FIG. 3 ) permitting access to the cassette 332.The above-mentioned cassette access door 124 has a closed position(shown in FIG. 3 ) for obstructing the opening to prevent access to thecassette 332, and an open position for permitting placement and removalof the cassette 332 into and out of the media processing device 100.

During printing operations, the ink ribbon (not shown) travels from asupply roller 336 of the cassette 332 to the printhead 328, and then toa take-up roller 340 of the cassette 332. As the ink ribbon and themedia unit 200 pass the printhead 328, the ink ribbon is in contact withthe media unit 200. To generate the above-mentioned indicia, certainelements (e.g., printhead dots) of the printhead 328 are selectivelyenergized (e.g., heated) according to machine-readable instructions(e.g., print line data or a bitmap). When energized, the elements of theprinthead 328 apply energy (e.g., heat) to the ink ribbon to transferink to specific portions of the media unit 200.

In some examples, processing of the media unit 200 includes encodingdata in an integrated circuit, such as a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag, magnetic strip, or combination thereof, embedded in themedia unit 200. Encoding may occur at a location of the printhead 328mentioned above, or at a distinct secondary processing element upstreamor downstream of the printhead 328 along the media processing path 316.

Having traversed the printhead 328, the media unit 200 is transported toa media unit redirector 344 controllable to reverse, or flip, the mediaunit 200 by receiving the media unit 200, rotating by about 180 degrees,and expelling the media unit 200. In the illustrated example, theredirector 344 is configured to perform the above functions (receiving,flipping, and expelling a media unit 304) under motive power supplied bya single source, such as a motor.

Accordingly, the media transport assembly is configured to operate intwo opposite directions along at least a portion of the media processingpath 316 (illustrated in double lines). Specifically, the mediaprocessing path 316 proceeds in a return direction (as opposed to anoutbound direction from the input hopper 300 to the printhead 328 andthe redirector 344, described above) from the redirector 344 to theprinthead 328. As a result of the media unit 200 having been flipped atthe redirector 344, on the return pass of the printhead 328 an oppositeside of the media unit 200 is exposed to the printhead 328 than on theoutbound pass of the printhead 328. The media processing device 100, inother words, is capable of applying indicia to both sides of the mediaunit 200, before the media unit 200 is transported along the remainderof the media processing path 316 to the output hopper 116.

Prior to entering the redirector 344, the media unit 200 is transportedby drive rollers 346 and 347 of the above-mentioned transport assembly,to traverse one or more registration assemblies. At least one of theregistration assemblies is configured to align the media unit 200 withthe direction of travel along the media processing path 316 before themedia unit 200 enters the redirector 344. In some examples, theregistration assembly is configured to retract away from the mediaprocessing path 316 as the media unit 200 exits the redirector 344 inthe return direction.

The media unit 304 travelling along the media processing path 316 mayalternatively be redirected from the media processing path 316 to anauxiliary processing path 348, also referred to as a media reject path.In the illustrated example, the redirector 344 is controllable, forexample responsive to a detection of misaligned indicia applied at theprinthead 328, a failed data writing operation to an embedded circuit inthe media unit 200 or other defect, to rotate to a reject position at anangle other than 180 degrees from the resting position shown in FIG. 3 .Having rotated to the reject position, the redirector 344 is configuredto expel the media unit 200, which is transported along the reject path348 to a media unit holder 350 that defines a storage area for rejectedmedia units.

As indicated above, when the media unit 200 is properly processed (i.e.,not rejected), the media unit 200 proceeds along the media processingpath 316 in the return direction toward the output hopper 116. FIG. 3illustrates a stack of media units that forms in the output hopper 116when multiple media units enter the output hopper 116.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the output hopper 116. The output hopper 116includes surfaces that define a cavity 400 configured to receive themedia unit 200 in a particular orientation. In the illustrated example,the cavity 400 is defined by a rear surface 402, first and second sidesurfaces 404 and 406 (FIG. 5 ), a bottom surface 408, and first andsecond doors 410 and 412. The first minor edge 202 of the media unit 200enters the output hopper 116 before the second minor edge 204. That is,the media unit 200 falls into the cavity 400 with the first minor edge202 leading the second minor edge 204. As such, when the media unit 200falls into the cavity 400, the first minor edge 202 of the media islocated proximate (e.g., abutting) the first and second doors 410 and412, the second minor edge 204 is located proximate the rear surface402, the first major edge 206 is located proximate the first sidesurface 404, and the second major edge 208 is located proximate thesecond side surface 406. Put another way, when the media unit 200 comesto a rest in the cavity 400, the second minor edge 204 extends along therear surface 402 from the first side surface 404 to the second sidesurface 406. Further, when the media unit 200 comes to a rest in thecavity 400, the first and second major edges 206 and 208 extend alongthe first and second side surfaces 404 and 406, respectively, from therear surface 402 towards the first and second doors 410 and 412,respectively.

In the illustrated example, a front portion of the bottom surface 408slopes downwards in a direction away from the rear surface 402.Additionally, the bottom surface 408 includes a recess (e.g.,bowl-shaped surface) 414 to enable a user to place, for example, afinger or thumb underneath a bottommost media unit in the cavity 400 toremove the media unit(s). Removal of the media unit(s) and the recess414 are discussed in further detail below.

As the media units 304 fall into the output hopper 116, a stack of mediaunits forms in a direction normal to the media unit plane. That is, thestack forms in a direction corresponding to the normal 212 that extendsfrom the first surface 210 described above in connection with FIG. 2 .Put yet another away, the stack of media units in the cavity 400 formsin a direction extending away from the bottom surface 408 and toward aceiling of the output hopper 116.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the first door 410 and the second door 412 are in aclosed position. In the closed position, the first and second doors 410and 412 retain media units located in the cavity 400. In particular, thefirst door 410 includes a first retaining portion 416, and the seconddoor 412 includes a second retaining portion 418. Each of the retainingportions 416 and 418 includes a face configured to engage a portion ofthe first minor edge 202 of the media unit(s) 200 located in the cavity400 when the doors 410 and 412 are in the closed position. A channel orspace separates the first retaining portion 416 of the first door 410from the second retaining portion 418 of the second door 412. Due to thechannel, a middle portion of the first minor edge 202 is not engaged bythe first and second retaining portions 416 and 418. That is, a portionof the media unit(s) located in the cavity 400 is accessible to usersthrough the channel even when the first and second doors 410 and 412 arein the closed position. When the first and second doors 410 and 412 arein the closed position the channel therebetween is smaller than a lengthof the first minor edge 202 of the media unit 200 and, thus, the mediaunit 200 is retained in the cavity 400 by the first and second retainingportions 416 and 418 of the first and second doors 410 and 412.

The first door 410 includes a first cutout 420 at a top edge and thesecond door 412 includes a second cutout 422 at a top edge. The firstand second cutouts 420 and 422 provide space between uppermost edges ofthe retaining portions 416 and 418, respectively, and a top of thecavity 400. As discussed below in connection with FIG. 9 , the spaceprovided by the first and second cutouts 420 and 422 provide a method ofremoving one or more media units 200 from the cavity 400. That is, auser can slide the media unit(s) upwards in the cavity 400 untilreaching the space formed by the cutouts 420 and 422, and then pull themedia unit(s) out of the cavity 400, all without moving the first andsecond doors 410 and 412. Moreover, as discussed further in connectionwith FIG. 10 below, the first and second cutouts 420 and 422 allow mediaunits to spill out of the cavity 400 in the event that a capacity of theoutput hopper 116 is exceeded, thereby preventing, for example, jammingof the media processing device 100.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first rotational direction 500 in which the firstdoor 410 moves from the closed position to an open position.Additionally, FIG. 5 illustrates a second rotational direction 502 inwhich the second door 412 moves from the closed position to the openposition. The first door 410 is pivotably mounted to a first side of thehousing 104, and the second door 412 is pivotably mounted to a secondside of the housing 104. In the illustrated example, each of the firstand second doors 410 and 412 is pivotably mounted at a plurality oflocations along the first and second sides of the housing 104. Themounting of the first and second doors 410 and 412 is discussed furtherbelow in connection with FIG. 6 .

To move the first door 410 in the first rotational direction 500, a userapplies a force to the first door 410. To move the second door 412 inthe second rotational direction 502, the user applies a force to thesecond door 412. Notably, the first door 410 is independently movablefrom the second door 412 and vice versa. For example, the first door 410may pivot in the first rotational direction 500 while the second door412 remains still. Further, the second door 412 may pivot in the secondrotational direction 502 while the first door 410 remains still.Further, the first and second doors 410 and 412 can both movesimultaneously.

In the illustrated example, the first and second doors 410 and 412 arebiased to the closed position and, thus, the applied force needed tomove the first and second doors 410 and 412 is great enough to overcomethe biasing of the first and second doors 410 and 412. The force can beapplied directly (e.g., via a finger in contact with the first door410). Additionally or alternatively, the force can be applied indirectlyby, for example, pulling on one or more media units positioned in thecavity 400, thereby causing the one or more media units to force thefirst door 410 to move in the first rotational direction 500 and thesecond door 412 to move in the second rotational direction 502.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first door 410 pivots about a first axis in thefirst rotational direction 500, and the second door 412 pivots about asecond axis in the second rotational direction 502. Notably, the firstand second axes about which the first and second doors 410 and 412 pivotare substantially parallel with the direction in which the media unitsare stacked in the cavity 400. Put another way, the first and secondaxes about which the first and second doors 410 and 412, respectively,pivot are substantially parallel with the example normal 212 of FIG. 2 .Put yet another way, the first and second axes associated about whichthe first and second doors 410 and 412, respectively, pivot aresubstantially aligned with the direction in which the media units arestacked in the cavity 400. Put yet another way, the first and secondaxes intersect the media unit plane when the corresponding media unit islocated in the cavity 400.

FIG. 6 illustrates the first and second doors 410 and 412 in the openposition. As the first door 410 moves in the first rotational direction500 (FIG. 5 ) and/or the second door 412 moves in the second rotationaldirection 502 (FIG. 5 ), the channel between the first and second doors410 and 412 increases in size. That is, the space between the first andsecond retaining portions 416 and 418 increases as one and/or both ofthe first and second doors 410 and 412 move to the open position. Thefirst and second doors 410 and 412 are configured to enlarge thechannel, by pivoting in the first and second rotational directions 500and 502, to a size large enough to permit media unit(s) located in thecavity 400 to exit the output hopper 116 through the channel. Exampleremovals of media unit(s) from the cavity are discussed below inconnection with FIGS. 7-9 .

When the force that caused the first and second doors 410 and 412 tomove the open position is removed (or lessened to a degree that does notovercome the biasing to the closed position), the first and second doors410 and 412 return to the closed position due to the biasing of thefirst and second doors 410 and 412 to the closed position. To return tothe closed position, the first door 410 moves in a third rotationaldirection 600 (FIG. 6 ) opposite the first rotational direction 500, andthe second door 412 moves in a fourth rotational direction 602 (FIG. 6 )opposite the second rotational direction 502.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the second door 412 is pivotably mounted to thehousing 104 by first, second, and third mounting arms 604-608. In theillustrated example, the first and third arms 604 and 608 are coupled tomounting elements of the housing 104 (e.g., via a post of the housing104 being received by an aperture on the arm). In the illustratedexample, the second arm 606 is a biasing element that biases the seconddoor 412 to the closed position. In the illustrated example, the secondarm 606 is a flexural beam that acts against the frame to spring thedoor 412 shut. Any suitable type of biasing element(s) can be used tobias the second door 412 to the closed position. Although not visible inFIG. 6 , the first door 410 is pivotably mounted to the housing 104 andbiased to the closed position in a similar manner as the second door412.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate example manners in which media unit(s) can beremoved from the output hopper 116. In FIG. 7 , a stack of media units(e.g., the stack 304 of FIG. 3 ) has formed in the cavity 400. The stack304 is removed in FIG. 7 by gripping, for example, a top of the stack304 and a bottom of the stack 304, and pulling in an exit direction 700away from the rear surface 402 of the output hopper 116. To grip thestack 304, the user has access to a surface of the bottommost media unitvia the recess 414 in the bottom surface 408. The recess 414 forms aforward portion of the bottom surface 408 and provides a gap by dippingdown relative to a rearward portion of the bottom surface 408. As theuser pulls the stack 304 in the exit direction 700, the stack 304 forcesthe first and second doors 410 and 412 open to the open position byapplying a force to the first and second retaining portions 416 and 418.When the stack 304 is removed (i.e., the second minor surface 204 hastraveled in the exit direction 700 passed the first and second retainingportions 416 and 418), the first and second doors 410 and 412 return tothe closed position.

In FIG. 8 , a single media unit 200 is removed from the cavity 400 in asimilar manner as the stack 304 of FIG. 7 . The single media unit 200 isgripped by a user and pulled in the exit direction 700 such that thefirst and second doors 410 and 412 are forced to move from the closedposition to the open position. When the media unit 200 clears the firstand second retaining portions 416 and 418, the first and second doors410 and 412 return to the closed position.

In FIG. 9 , rather than pulling on the single media unit 200 to forcethe first and second doors 410 and 412 open, the media unit 200 islifted in an upward direction 900 until the media unit is over the firstand second cutouts 420 and 422. Once the media unit 200 is over thefirst and second cutouts 420 and 422, the media unit 200 is pulled awayfrom and out of the cavity 400 over the first and second doors 410 and412.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example overflow protection feature of theexample media processing device 100. The first and second doors 410 and412, including the first and second cutouts 420 and 422, are configuredto allow media units 200 dispensed into the output hopper 116 to escapeover the first and second doors 410 and 412 should the stack 304 in thecavity 400 become too large. Rather than being completely encased, thecavity 400 is provided with an outlet via the first and second cutouts420 and 422 so that media units may spill out of the output hopper 116should, for example, a user fail to empty the output hopper 116 beforeinstructing the media processing 100 to process one or more media unitsthat would exceed the capacity of the output hopper 116. By spilling outof the output hopper 116, the media units do not, for example, jam themedia processing device 100.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including both software and firmware) that control the oneor more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

What is claimed is:
 1. An output hopper comprising: a bottom including aconcave bottom surface; a ceiling opposite the bottom; a rear surfaceextending vertically between the bottom surface and the ceiling; a firstside surface adjacent to the rear surface and extending verticallybetween the bottom surface and the ceiling; a second side surfaceopposite the first side surface and adjacent to the rear surface, thesecond side surface extending from the bottom surface to the ceiling;and a first door disposed opposite the rear surface when the first dooris in a closed position, the first door adjacent and pivotably coupledto at least one of the first side surface or the second side surface, afirst top edge of the first door having a first cutout; the rearsurface, the first side surface, the second side surface, the bottom,and the first door define a cavity configured and dimensioned to receivea plurality of rectangular cards from an output of a media processingdevice, the cavity to cause the plurality of cards to form a stack in afirst direction; the first door pivotably movable between a closedposition and an open position, wherein the first door is configured topivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction;wherein: the concave bottom surface of the bottom is accessible when thefirst door is in the open position, and the first door is biased in theclosed position to retain the plurality of cards resting against thefirst door so that the first door causes the plurality of cards to alignatop each other in the stack in the cavity up to the first cutout andthe first cutout allows ones of the plurality of cards to spill over thefirst cutout in the first door when a capacity of the cavity isexceeded.
 2. The output hopper of claim 1, wherein the first directionextends away from the bottom surface of the output hopper.
 3. The outputhopper of claim 2, wherein the cavity is configured such that theplurality of cards rest on the bottom surface.
 4. The output hopper ofclaim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the output hopper includes arecess configured to provide space between the bottom surface and asurface of a bottommost one of the plurality of cards.
 5. The outputhopper of claim 1, wherein, when the first door is in the closedposition, a first retaining portion of the first door is configured toengage a minor edge of the plurality of cards.
 6. The output hopper ofclaim 1, wherein the first axis intersects a media unit plane defined bya surface of one of the cards.